A few weeks ago I rolled out the first-ever Sports in a Can NFL Rankings. For a complete explanation on how it works and the rankings after Week 6, click here.

If you just want to dive in to the latest set of rankings, here’s all you need to know: because one play can sometimes decide whether a team wins or loses, a close win or loss factors into each team’s ranking:

a win by 9+ points is worth 3 points
a win by 1-8 points is worth 2 points
a loss by 1-8 points is worth 1 point
a loss by 9+ points is worth 0 points

Any ties were broken by looking a little more in depth at the team’s slate of games to date. Other than that, the numbers speak for themselves.

Without further ado, here is the latest installment of the Sports in a Can NFL Rankings (the number in parentheses is the team’s rating according to the above formula):

32 Cleveland (4)
Hands down the worst team in the league. How on earth can you commit a pass interference penalty in the end zone on a Hail Mary? The Browns have 1 win and 7 losses by 9 or more (most in the league). At best this team could be 3-7 right now (also worst in the league). Congratulations to head coach Eric Mangini and the rest of the Browns' staff for fielding the worst team in the league.

31 Detroit (6)
The Lions' wins have come against Washington (whom you'll read about shortly) and #32 Cleveland, thus their #31 spot in our rankings.

30 Tampa Bay (6)
Tampa Bay's lone win came against a game Green Bay squad (by 10 points). That win and their 3 close losses accounts for their identical rating as the 2-win Lions. But I would take the Bucs over the Lions right now.

29 St. Louis (6)
The Rams' lone win was over #31 Detroit, but they have one more close loss than Tampa Bay, and their 5 losses by 9+ are fewer than any team in the bottom four (and one fewer than Seattle).

27 Kansas City (9)
27 Oakland (9)
Kansas City and Oakland have split their two games and have remarkably similar statistics. So since I really don't want to spend a lot of time considering who is better, I'm not going to. They tie for #27.

26 Seattle (10)
I still can't figure out the Seahawks. All 3 of their wins came by 9+ while 6 of their 7 losses have been by 9 or more.

25 Buffalo (11)
Bills fans deserve better. Between dreading the beginning of the Terrell Owens soap opera and wishing for the end of the Dick Jauron era, things just have not been fun in Buffalo the past year. And now the waiting game begins for the hoped-for Mike Shanahan era.

24 Washington (12)
During the first release of the rankings, the Redskins were the only team that had every game decided by 8 points or less. Which means they could have been undefeated or winless. Five weeks later and they've won 1 game by 9+ and lost twice by 9+, meaning they could have as many as 8 wins but also could be 1-9.

23 Carolina (12)
The Panthers have the 3rd best rushing attack in the NFL and yet they continue to let shaky Jake Delhomme (14 INTs this year) throw the ball in key situations. In their loss to Miami last week, the Panthers gained 6.7 yards per rush attempt, and yet they only handed the ball to their running backs 25 times, while they let Delhomme drop back to throw it 46 times. And this is why they are ranked #23.

22 Miami (12)
The Dolphins' win over Carolina easily breaks the tie between the two, but until Miami can figure out how to finish games, they'll continue to lose close ones. Let's remember that they were one play away from beating the Colts and had the Saints on the ropes early in that game. That would be both of the remaining undefeated teams.

21 Tennessee (13)
Remember the Titans? They're baaaack. When last we ranked the teams, the Titans were coming off a 59-0 thumping at the hands of the Patriots and were ranked 28th. Now they've won 4 in a row and look like a different team with quarterback Vince Young at the helm. They are now--remarkably--in the playoff discussion. With 3 close losses, this team could just as easily be 7-3 right now.

20 Chicago (14)
The Bears went from having no offense last year to having an offensive offense this year. Not only did Chicago apparently downgrade going from Kyle Orton to Jay Cutler, but they had to give up a draft pick to get Cutler.

19 NY Jets (14)
The Jets went from 3-0 trash-talkers to 4-6 crybabies awfully quickly, didn't they?

18 Jacksonville (14)
Let me clear: I do not trust the Jaguars. But I trust them more than the Bears and Jets right now. I just don't know how they have 6 wins.

17 San Francisco (15)
The 49ers have 5 losses of 8 points of fewer, meaning they could be 9-1 right now. But they got blown out at home by Atlanta and I trust them less than Denver, so here they are at #17.

16 Denver (15)
After Week 6 the Broncos were 6-0 and ranked #3. Four games later and they are 6-4, dropping 13 spots. It's bad times for the Broncos. That 8-game losing streak many people predicted prior to the season might actually come true after all.

15 Atlanta (15)
The Falcons have 3 wins of 9+ and 3 losses of 9+. They have 5 wins and 5 losses. How does 8-8 sound to Falcons fans? Matt Ryan’s sophomore season isn't going quite as smoothly as his rookie season did.

14 NY Giants (17)
It's a 9-spot drop for the Giants thanks to their 4-game losing streak. They got back on track last week with their overtime win over Atlanta, but I'm not convinced that New York is headed in the right direction just yet.

13 Houston (17)
The Texans could have 9 wins right now if not for close losses to Jacksonville, Arizona, Indianapolis, and Tennessee--and 3 of those teams would be in the playoffs if they started today. The question is whether or not this team can put it together this year and start winning those close games.

12 Green Bay (18)
Two weeks ago the Packers got their first win against a team ranked ahead of them (adding it to their cache of wins against teams ranked #32, #31, #29, #20, and #17). I'm still going to need to see more from Green Bay before I give them any respect.

11 San Diego (18)
Thanks to a 5-game winning streak, the Chargers jump up 10 spots. They have also taken control of the AFC West, and their Week 15 meeting with Cincinnati might just be for the #2 seed in the AFC.

10 Baltimore (18)
Four of Baltimore's five wins have been by 9+ and they've only lost one game by 9+, which explains why this 5-5 team is ranked ahead of four teams with 6 wins. But if they lose to Pittsburgh this week, the playoffs might be out of reach for the Ravens.

9 Cincinnati (18)
The Bengals have beaten Baltimore twice and also beat Green Bay, so that’s why they're ahead of those two teams. Plus they've only lost by 9+ once so far, so the #9 spot belongs to Cincinnati.

8 Arizona (19)
Very quietly, the Cardinals are the 8th best team in the NFL. They have yet to lose on the road and are running away with the NFC West. Once again the Cards might be a tough out in the playoffs.

7 Philadelphia (20)
The Eagles trail Dallas only because the Cowboys beat them head-to-head. They've lost by 9+ just once while posting 5 wins of 9+. As long as head coach Andy Reid doesn't have to deal with any clock management issues down the stretch this is a dangerous team.

6 Dallas (20)
The Cowboys could just as easily be 4-6 or 9-1 right now. After looking like they turned the corner during their 3-game winning streak, the Cowboys have scored just two touchdowns in their last two games. If they don't wake up against the Raiders on Thanksgiving there could be trouble in Big D as the calendar turns to December (the Cowboys have not had a winning December since 1996).

5 Pittsburgh (20)
The Steelers are one of four teams that could be 10-0 right now, as they've yet to lose a game by more than 6 points. Big Ben's head and the play of the defense are a concern for the Steelers heading into their huge game against the Ravens.

4 New England (22)
New England should be 8-2, but they could easily be 10-0 due to all of their close losses. After choking away their first "biggest game of the year," Monday night looms as their next biggest game of the year (against the Saints).

3 Indianapolis (24)
The undefeated Colts have won 6 games by 6 points or less. It's not every day that a 10-0 team could just as easily be 4-6. Can they possibly continue winning all of these close games?

2 Minnesota (24)
I realize the Vikings have played their fair share of the dregs of the league, but they have taken care of business against all of them, racking up 6 wins of 9+. That's enough to put the Vikings ahead of the Colts--for now. If the annual Brett Favre swoon begins then we'll have to re-evaluate. But with 21 TDs and only 3 INTs, Favre and the Vikings have earned the #2 spot.

1 New Orleans (28)
Holding on to the top spot is the New Orleans Saints. They've won 8 of their 10 games by 9+ and have a real shot at running the table…if they can beat the #4 Patriots on Monday.

Week 12 NFL Picks

Green Bay (-10½) over DETROIT
DALLAS (-13½) over Oakland
NY Giants (-6½) over DENVER
Miami (-3) over BUFFALO
CINCINNATI (-14) over Cleveland
HOUSTON (+3½) over Indianapolis
Tampa Bay (+12) over ATLANTA
Washington (+9) over PHILADELPHIA
Carolina (+3) over NY JETS
ST. LOUIS (+3) over Seattle
Jacksonville (+3½) over SAN FRANCISCO
SAN DIEGO (-13½) over Kansas City
MINNESOTA (-10½) over Chicago
TENNESSEE (E) over Arizona
Pittsburgh (+2½) over BALTIMORE
New England (+3) over NEW ORLEANS

Last week: 7-9

Season: 80-79-1

“You don't sleep after a loss like this and you throw up in your mouth a couple of times, which is what I did last night.”  - Bill Parcells, 1997

That’s how I felt Sunday night.

But ever since the Patriots inexplicably went for it on 4th down on their own 28 against the Colts while leading by 6, most everyone has focused on that final play. As if that play was the only play that decided the outcome of the game. I’ve said time and time again that football is a game of inches and one play can literally make the difference between winning and losing. So, it’s true that if the Patriots converted that 4th down, the game would have been over. That one play made the difference. But there were plenty of other “one plays” that determined the outcome as well.

Let’s be honest. Anyone watching this game probably had the same thought that Patriots head coach Bill Belichick must have had: If we give the Colts the ball back, they’re going to score from anywhere on the field. The Colts had just scored two touchdowns on eerily similar 79-yard drives in less than two minutes each time. Sandwiched between those two drives was an interception of Manning on a pass in which his receiver clearly ran the wrong route. Otherwise that drive probably would have ended in a touchdown as well.  Maybe that 4th down call wasn’t so crazy after all. And besides, even if the Patriots failed to get the 1st down, they might have gotten the ball back with enough time to drive down and kick a game-winning field goal.

But if that’s the way that Belichick was thinking—and we’ll never know, because he is the king of being tight-lipped—then the decisions he and his coaching staff made both before and after the 4th down play are all the more maddening.

Let’s begin at the beginning. The Patriots were playing a brilliant game. After driving 73 yards for the first touchdown of the game, the Patriots allowed a 90-yard touchdown drive to the Colts. After that, the Patriots’ defense forced 6 punts and intercepted Manning once, while the offense roared to a 31-14 lead. And up until that point, the game was not as close as the score indicated. The Patriots could have been up 45-14 because Tom Brady threw an interception in the end zone and Laurence Maroney fumbled on the goal line. But after the Colts marched the field to cut the lead to 31-21, Belichick must have been having flashbacks to the Patriots’ loss to the Colts in the AFC Championship Game three years ago. Or to the 4th quarter of their Super Bowl XLII loss to the Giants. Or even to the 4th quarter of Super Bowl XXXVIII against the Panthers. Each time the Patriots’ defense collapsed after playing brilliantly for three quarters.

Which makes Belichick’s next seven decisions all the more perplexing. He saw what was coming, probably better than anyone else. And yet only when faced with a go-for-it-and-possibly-win vs. punt-it-and-probably-lose decision did he finally attempt to counteract what was happening.

Up 31-21 following the first Colts 79-yard drive, the Patriots took over on their own 20. At first, the drive looked like their previous two, as the Patriots began to move the ball with short passes. But their two runs by Maroney gained 0 and 2 yards each. On 2-and-8 Brady was sacked—possibly because the Colts decided they didn’t need to try and stop the run any more—and the Patriots were left with 3rd-and-10. To that point they had had three 3rd downs of 8 yards or more. They made the 1st down only on their first attempt. After that they were 0-for-2. The Patriots basically had three choices: 1) Run the ball, trying to gain a surprise 1st down as they had done several times with a Kevin Faulk inside draw, and punt if they don’t get it; 2) Determine at that point that it was time to start going for it on 4th down to retain possession (they were on their own 45) and run two plays to get their 10 yards; or 3) Run a pass play designed to pick up 10 yards. Even if Option #1 led to a punt, at least a running play burned another 30 seconds off the clock. Belichick chose Option #3 (Decision #1), Brady threw incomplete, and the Patriots punted with 7:54 remaining in the game.

Ten seconds later, the Patriots had the ball back on the Colts’ 31-yard-line thanks to the wrong-route interception. After gaining one first down (thanks to a Maroney 2-yard run), the Patriots faced a 3rd-and-8 on the Colts’ 18. Once again they had the same choices as before (only substitute a field goal for the punt). Once again Belichick chose Option #3 and once again another 30 seconds were left on the clock thanks to an incomplete pass (Decision #2).

Touchdown, Colts, and the lead is down to 6 with 2:23 remaining in the game. Belichick huddles on the sideline with Brady and talks to whomever is on the other end of his headset. All we ever hear about the Patriots is how well prepared they are and how Belichick gets them ready for even the most unlikely of situations. So what happens following a kickoff and all of the strategizing on the sideline? The Patriots have to call a timeout. (Dumbfounding Decision #3.)

Even more dumbfounding, out of the timeout they line up in a conventional one back set—with Kevin Faulk not Maroney in the backfield—and run right up the middle. No gain (Decision #4). They burned a timeout for that? Timeout Colts, their first. Next, Brady completes a pass to Welker for 8 yards. Now it’s 3rd-and-2 with 2:11 remaining and time to plan the next two plays thanks to the Colts’ timeout.

And here’s where it gets interesting. You’ve got to come out of this timeout with a plan for the next two plays, because the game is on the line. If you know you’re going for it on 4th down, then you could line up in the shotgun and give the inside handoff to Kevin Faulk. Maybe you make the 1st down, but worst case scenario you get a little closer to the 1st and you make the Colts burn another timeout. Or you could play action and try to hit a deep pass to Moss for a game-winning 1st down. If it’s incomplete, at least you went for it and maybe you even get to the 2-minute warning by taking up 11 seconds.

The Patriots’ decision? Send everyone on routes that are close to the line of scrimmage—exactly what the Colts were hoping would happen. And Brady threw a tough pass to Welker that went incomplete, burning a mere 3 seconds of clock. Even Welker’s route made no sense. The guy makes a living eating up the middle of the field for catches and yet they sent him toward the sideline and made Brady throw a pass he’s had trouble completing all season (Decision #5).

No need for a timeout from the Colts, and 2:08 still remaining. The Patriots inexplicably burn their final timeout (Decision #6) and go for it on 4th down, failing to convert. (Which I’m sure you know by now.)

But the bad decisions weren’t over yet. 2:00 remaining, the Colts on the 29-yard line, and the Patriots have no timeouts left. The Colts need a touchdown. And if they get it, the Patriots need the ball back as soon as possible. So what do the Patriots do? Play the same defense that hasn’t worked the entire quarter. Why not blitz 8? If you get the sack, great, if you don’t then the Colts probably score. Then you’d get the ball back, which is what you want. Instead they stick with the defense that wasn’t working (Decision #7) and the Colts complete a 15-yard pass and then a 14-yard run that puts the ball on the 1-yard line. Two plays (and 1:43 of clock) later, touchdown. Game over.

You can debate 4th-and-2 all you want. I’m still perplexed about the other seven decisions: 3rd-and10, 3rd-and-8, timeout #2, 1st-and-10, 3rd-and-2, timeout #3, and not playing aggressive defense on the Colts’ final drive. Those seven decisions led just as much to the Patriots’ loss as 4th-and-2.

At this point Patriots fans have to hope that this is one of those learning experiences that will get the team to gel and propel them forward. Like the 29-28 loss to the Dolphins in Week 15 in 2004 (the Patriots gave up two touchdowns in 44 seconds late in the 4th quarter). Or the 31-0 loss to the Bills at the start of the 2003 season (the game after which ESPN’s Tom Jackson famously declared that the Patriots “hate their coach”). Or the 30-10 loss to the Dolphins in Week 4 of the 2001 season (after the game Belichick and the Patriots buried the game ball as a signal that they were moving on). Why these three games? Because in each instance the team rallied together and marched to a Super Bowl victory.

At the end of the day it was a devastating regular season loss. But it was still a regular season loss. There are not months of angst ahead before the next game. On Sunday afternoon, just seven days later, they’ll tee it up again for the next big game. How the Patriots’ players and coaches respond is the real question now.

NFL Week 11 Picks

CAROLINA (-3) over Miami
TAMPA BAY (+11) over New Orleans
NY GIANTS (-6½) over Atlanta
JACKSONVILLE (-8½) over Buffalo
GREEN BAY (-6½) over San Francisco
MINNESOTA (-10½) over Seattle
Indianapolis (-1) over BALTIMORE
Washington (+11) over DALLAS
Pittsburgh (-10) over KANSAS CITY
DETROIT (-3½) over Cleveland
ST. LOUIS (+9) over Arizona
Cincinnati (-9½) over OAKLAND
San Diego (-2½) over DENVER
NEW ENGLAND (-10½) over NY Jets
CHICAGO (+3) over Philadelphia
Tennessee (+4½) over HOUSTON 

Last week: 7-8

Season: 73-70-1

After an unprecedented three straight weeks with six teams on a bye (giving us just 13 games per weekend), the NFL is finally at near-full strength this week, with only the Giants and Texans getting the week off. Next week the full slate of 16 games returns. So with the byes officially over after this week and my prognosticating skills severely diminished after a solid run to start the season, it's time to take a look at each game in detail this week.

Thursday Night Football

Chicago at San Francisco
Thursday Night Football is back--because with the byes mercifully almost over the NFL has a new way to mess up picking games as well as Fantasy Football rosters: Thursday Night Football. The Bears lost at Cincinnati 45-10 and to Arizona at home 41-21. The 49ers have lost four straight and five of their last six. What a perfect match-up to kick off the Thursday night series. (Insert sarcasm here.)
Pick: Chicago (+3½)

Sunday games

New Orleans at St. Louis
The Saints are the most feared team in the NFL. They win with offense (40+ points scored four times). They win with defense (7 defensive touchdowns this season). The Rams, on the other hand, are one of the least feared teams in the NFL. Their lone win came against the 1-7 Lions and they've scored more than 17 points just once. How do you think this one's going to go?
Pick: New Orleans (-14)

Tampa Bay at Miami
The battle of Florida. Are the Dolphins the best 3-5 team in NFL history? If they could just find a way to close out games they could be 6-2.
Pick: Miami (-10)

Detroit at Minnesota
After a homecoming to remember in Green Bay, Brett Favre and the Vikings received a rare gift--two weeks off: a bye and a visit from the Lions.
Pick: Minnesota (-16½)

Jacksonville at NY Jets
After an impressive 3-0 start, the Jets have lost four of their last five. Meanwhile, in the Jaguars' last three games they've barely beaten the Rams and Chiefs while they've handed the Titans their first win. Your guess is as good as mine on this one.
Pick: Jacksonville (+7)

Buffalo at Tennessee
What great times these two teams have had together. The greatest playoff comeback ever (when the Titans were the Oilers). The Music City Miracle. And this weekend? A boring game that most people don't want to watch.
Pick: Tennessee (-6½)

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh
The Bengals are officially for real now. And while not many people saw it coming, it was one of the best predictions from my NFL preview. A win over Pittsburgh this week will be the next step in their dramatic rise to the division title.
Pick: Cincinnati (+7)

Denver at Washington
Just what the Broncos need to snap their two-game losing streak--a trip to D.C.
Pick: Denver (-4)

Atlanta at Carolina
The Falcons are 5-0 against teams that are at .500 or worse, while they are 0-3 against the Saints, Patriots, and Cowboys. They still have two games with Tampa Bay, as well as dates with the Jets, Bills, and this week's game against the Panthers. Which means this team could theoretically finish with 10 wins without ever beating a team with a winning record.
Pick: Atlanta (-2)

Kansas City at Oakland
Every second the Red Zone Channel spends on this game is a second that's wasted. I don't even want to pick it. But I guess I will.
Pick: Oakland (-2)

Seattle at Arizona
The defending NFC Champion Cardinals are even more perplexing this year than they were last year. They are 1-3 at home, getting outscored 106-75. On the road, they are 4-0 and have outscored their opponents 123-58. So since they're at home this week, I'm going with the Seahawks, even though it makes no sense except for the above stats.
Pick: Seattle (+8½)

Dallas at Green Bay
The Packers lost to Tampa Bay last week. That's really as much analysis as I need.
Pick: Dallas (-3)

Philadelphia at San Diego
Eagles coach Andy Reid challenged the spot on a 4th down play last week. It didn't go well. Later, trailing by 7 with 4:27 remaining in the game and out of timeouts, he ordered a field goal. And then kicked away instead of trying an onside kick. It was hands down one of the worst--and most perplexing--performances by a head coach in NFL history. Having Reid go head-to-head with Chargers coach Norv Turner this week is like an anti-Hall of Fame match-up.
Pick: San Diego (-1½)

Sunday Night Football

New England at Indianapolis
Once again, Patriots-Colts is one of the most anticipated games of the season. The Patriots are starting to gel while the Colts are fighting through injuries yet somehow winning every game. I like the Patriots to take this one and raise the intrigue level on this season.
Pick: New England (+3)

Monday Night Football

Baltimore at Cleveland
It's the old Browns vs. the new Browns. Since leaving Cleveland in 1996 and becoming the Baltimore Ravens, the old Browns have made the playoffs five times and won one Super Bowl. Since joining the league as an expansion franchise in 1999, the new Browns have made the playoffs once and had six different head coaches. The depth of this mismatch is unimaginable.
Pick: Baltimore (-11)

Last week: 6-7

Season: 66-62-1

Since the NFL has 6 teams on a bye for an unprecedented third straight week, I decided I'd take a bye as well...

Week 9 NFL Picks

ATLANTA (-10) over Washington
Green Bay (-9½) over TAMPA BAY
NEW ENGLAND (-10½) over Miami
Kansas City (+6½) over JACKSONVILLE
INDIANAPOLIS (-9) over Houston
CINCINNATI (+3) over Baltimore
Arizona (+3) over CHICAGO
Detroit (+10) over SEATTLE
NEW ORLEANS (-13) over Carolina
SAN FRANCISCO (-4½) over Tennessee
San Diego (+4½) over NY GIANTS
PHILADELPHIA (-3) over Dallas
Pittsburgh (-3) over DENVER

Last week: 3-10

Season: 60-55-1

In case you haven't heard, Brett Favre returns to Green Bay to face his former team this Sunday. He joins a long list of former players heading to the visitors' locker room at a stadium they once called home, but a short list of players who achieved icon status only to return dressed in enemy clothing.

Brett Favre's name was synonymous with the Green Bay Packers for 16 years. You couldn't help but think of one without the other during that time. He is a guaranteed first ballot Hall of Famer, and one of the most talked-about players of his era.

I came up with seven other examples on a par with Brett Favre--legendary local heroes returning to face their former teams. Some were cheered, some were booed. Some received both. But every return was anxiously awaited by the (formerly) home fans.

Here's a chronological rundown of the legends' returns:

Babe Ruth vs. the Boston Red Sox
April 19, 1920

To say that Babe Ruth was legendary is to state the obvious. But for the Red Sox through the end of the 1917 season, Ruth was mostly known for his pitching. In 1916 he led the league in ERA (1.75) and shutouts (9), and in 1917 he led the league with 35 complete games as he went 24-13 with a 2.01 ERA (a different game back then to be sure). The Red Sox won the 1915 and 1916 World Series, with Ruth getting just 6 at bats in the two series. But in 1918, the Red Sox used Ruth in the outfield for the first time. He would pitch in only 20 games in 1918 and 17 in 1919, and began to make his mark as a batter, leading the league with a then-record 11 home runs in 1918, and crushing 29 in 1919 (17 more than anyone else in baseball). But money troubles on the part of the Red Sox owner and the salary demands of the new star led to his sale to the New York Yankees in December 1919.

The Yankees played the Red Sox in a day-afternoon doubleheader on the Massachusetts state holiday (Patriots' Day) in 1920 and Babe Ruth made his first appearance in Boston in pinstripes. According to the book Red Sox Century, 10,000 fans cheered Ruth's return in game 1. Ruth went 2-for-4 but did not homer and the Red Sox won 6-0. 28,000 more fans piled into Fenway Park for game 2, and Ruth went just 1-for-4 (again without a home run) and the Red Sox won 8-3. Ruth received a huge ovation in each game before each at bat, but more cheers were heard for the Red Sox and their hot start against the Yankees.

Pete Rose vs. the Cincinnati Reds
June 1, 1979

Long before Pete Rose became known for the gambling scandal that led to his banishment from the game, he was known as "Charlie Hustle" and was a hitting machine for the Cincinnati Reds. Rose won three batting titles from 1963-1978, led the league in hits six times, won the Rookie of the Year Award in 1963 and the MVP in 1973. He and the "Big Red Machine" won back-to-back World Series titles in 1975 and 1976. In 1978 Rose had a 44-game hitting streak, the second-longest in Major League history, and the first real challenge to Joe DiMaggio's record 56-game streak set in 1941. His success made him a national superstar, and in the winter of 1978 Rose cashed in as a free agent, signing with the Philadelphia Phillies for a 4-year $3.2-million contract, which at the time made him the highest-paid player in team sports.

48,968 fans (the 5th-largest crowd of the season) packed Riverfront Stadium on the night of Rose's return. They cheered Rose prior to the game as he accepted the Reds' Most Valuable Player Award for 1978‚ an award voted on by the Cincinnati chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. And prior to Rose's first at bat, the fans gave him a standing ovation. Rose went 0-for-4 as his Phillies lost to Cincinnati 4-2.

Reggie Jackson vs. the New York Yankees
April 27, 1982

Reggie Jackson was already a star before he arrived in the Bronx, winning two home run crowns and the 1973 American League MVP award, and playing on an Oakland A's team that won three straight World Series titles from 1972 through 1974. But he didn't become "Mr. October" until he signed with the Yankees. Throughout five sometimes tumultuous sometimes victorious seasons, Jackson hit 8 home runs in 15 World Series games, and the Yankees won back-to-back titles in 1977-78. His well-documented battles with owner George Steinbrenner led to his joining the California Angels in 1982 as a free agent.

Jackson started the season in a terrible slump but went 2-for-3 in his return to Yankee Stadium. He singled to lead off the 5th inning and scored the Angels' go-ahead run. He led off the top of the 7th inning against perennial All-Star Ron Guidry, and with the fans chanting the familiar "Reg-GIE!" "Reg-GIE!", he hit a home run. The fans then chanted "Steinbrenner sucks!", letting the owner know whose side they were on. The game ended after 7 innings due to rain.

Wayne Gretzky vs. the Edmonton Oilers
October 19, 1988

As captured so well in ESPN's recent 30 for 30 documentary (King's Ransom), Wayne Gretzky was a Canadian national treasure. He had won four Stanley Cups in five years and eight MVP awards during his 10 years as a member of the Edmonton Oilers. He owned or shared 49 NHL records by the end of the 1987-88 season. But negotiations for a new contract for Gretzky broke down and Oilers owner Peter Pocklington traded the "Great One" to the Los Angeles Kings. Gretzky held a tearful press conference as he headed off to Los Angeles, and Pocklington had his effigy burned in public for trading Gretzky.

Gretzky returned to Edmonton with the Kings and received a four-minute standing ovation from the 17,503 fans (the largest crowd at the time to see an Oilers' game). The game was nationally televised in Canada, and Gretzky had two assists but did not score a goal in an 8-6 loss to the Oilers.

Patrick Roy vs. the Montreal Canadians
March 5, 1997

In 11 seasons with the Montreal Canadians, goaltender Patrick Roy won two Stanley Cups and three Vezina Trophies (top goalie in the NHL). He allowed the fewest goals against four times. At the start of the 1995-96 season, Roy was 12-8-1 with a 2.59 goals against average (which was better than his average in two of his previous three seasons). But Roy had a strained relationship with head coach Mario Tremblay, who had taken over for the fired Jacques Demers just five games into the season. On December 2, 1995, in a home game against the Detriot Red Wings, Roy allowed 5 goals in the 1st period. The crowd turned on Roy, and when Tremblay finally removed him from the game halfway through the 2nd period, Roy had allowed a career-high 9 goals. Roy--accusing Tremblay of attempting to embarrass him--told team president Ronald Corey that he would not play another game for the Canadians. Four days later he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche, with whom Roy won the Stanley Cup later that season.

Roy's return to Montreal came late in the next season, with the Avalanche cruising toward another playoff appearance while the Canadians were fighting for the 8th and final playoff spot. Roy received a standing ovation as he skated out to the ice, but was alternately cheered and booed throughout the game. But Montreal goalie Jocelyn Thibault, who was part of the trade for Roy, felt the brunt of the Montreal fans' displeasure, as they booed him after each of the six goals he allowed. And in an ironic twist, he was pulled by Tremblay in the 2nd period. Roy finished with 30 saves in the 7-3 Colorado win.

Roger Clemens vs. the Boston Red Sox
July 12, 1997

Long before the steroid accusations and the bat-throwing incident and his days as a Yankee and an Astro, Roger Clemens was the star of the Boston Red Sox. Clemens struck out 20 batters in a game twice (once in 1986 and once in 1996), won three Cy Young Awards, one MVP, and led the Red Sox to the playoffs four times. But by the time 1996 rolled around, many in Boston--including general manager Dan Duquette--felt Clemens was in the "twilight of his career." After a lackluster 10-13 season in 1996 (in which he had that second 20-strikeout game and led the league in strikeouts), Duquette and the Red Sox decided to let Clemens walk via free agency.

Clemens signed with the Toronto Blue Jays and looked like a different pitcher on opening day. He lost weight, put on muscle, and turned his career around. He entered his first showdown with the Red Sox 13-3 with a 1.69 ERA, 4 complete games, and 140 strikeouts in 138 innings pitched. Clemens received a mix of cheers and boos to start the game, and was universally booed when he hit former teammate Mo Vaughn with a pitch in the 1st inning. But after surviving early wildness, Clemens settled in and won the crowd over as the game progressed. He pitched 8 innings, allowing just 4 hits and striking out 16 in the Blue Jays' 3-1 win. After he struck out the side in the 8th inning, Clemens walked off the field to a standing ovation and glared up at GM Dan Duquette's skybox.

Michael Jordan vs. the Chicago Bulls
January 19, 2002

Michael Jordan retired from the NBA in 1998 after winning his sixth title with the Chicago Bulls and was universally hailed as the greatest player in NBA history. In 2000 he became part owner and President of Basketball Operations for the Washington Wizards, and in 2001 he returned to the court as a player for the Wizards.

He came into his first game as a visitor in Chicago averaging 17 points a game, but was just 7 games removed from having scored 51 and 45 points in back-to-back games. The Chicago crowd gave Jordan a three-minute standing ovation, bringing the legend to tears. He had 16 points but had a horrible game, missing 14 shots and turning the ball over a career-high nine times. But the Bulls (8-30 coming into the game) were worse, shooting just 25% from the field and Jordan's Wizards won 77-69.

Brett Favre vs. the Green Bay Packers
November 1, 2009

Brett Favre joins the list on Sunday. The next chapter is about to be written...


NFL Week 8 Picks

BUFFALO (+3½) over Houston
NY JETS (-3½) over Miami
INDIANAPOLIS (-12½) over San Francisco
DETROIT (-4) over St. Louis
Seattle (+9½) over DALLAS
CHICAGO (-13½) over Cleveland
Denver (+3½) over BALTIMORE
PHILADELPHIA (E) over NY Giants
SAN DIEGO (-16½) over Oakland
Jacksonville (+3) over TENNESSEE
ARIZONA (-10) over Carolina
Minnesota (+3) over GREEN BAY
NEW ORLEANS (-10) over Atlanta

Last week: 8-4-1

Season: 57-45-1